Son of woman found dead in trash can jailed in Cherokee County

Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 2:25 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 2:25 p.m.

The son of a woman found strangled to death in a trash can has been taken into custody, according to the Gaffney Police Department.

Brandon Scott Knuckles, 44, who lived with his mother, Marjorie L. Knuckles, 78, at her Hetty Hill Street home, has been booked at the Cherokee County Detention Center and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, according to online jail records.

On Sunday, Gaffney Police Chief Richard Turner called Brandon Knuckles a "person of interest" in the case, which remains under investigation.

Marjorie Knuckles was probably dead for a few days before her family discovered her body Sunday morning in the roll-out trash container behind a shed in her backyard. She had been reported missing by her family on Saturday night.

Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler, who ruled Marjorie Knuckles' death a homicide on Sunday, said that an autopsy on Monday found that she had been strangled to death. He said it was one of the most "heinous" crimes he's seen.

"In addition to being strangled, Mrs. Knuckles sustained other non-lethal bodily injuries caused by beating," Fowler said in a written statement. "The person responsible for this has no conscience."

Police and family couldn't locate Brandon Knuckles or Marjorie Knuckles' 2004 Nissan Maxima during the weekend. On Monday, about 9:30 a.m., officers received information that Brandon Knuckles was at a local motel, according to a written statement. Officers found him at the Homestead Lodge in Gaffney, and the Nissan in the parking lot of a neighboring hotel.

Brandon Knuckles remained in jail on Monday awaiting a bond hearing.

Marjorie Knuckles is remembered by friends and family as compassionate and loving. She was the caretaker for her 95-year-old mother, Christine Littlejohn, who was found at the Hetty Hill Street home alone and unharmed on Saturday night. Family members said Marjorie Knuckles would have never left her mother alone, and that was the "red flag" to call police.

Marjorie Knuckles was a retired teacher, having worked in Anderson. She moved back to Gaffney 10 or 12 years ago and was active in her church, Dunton United Methodist Church, where she served as president of the United Methodist Women.

Very active for her age, Marjorie Knuckles also served on the board of directors for the Senior Centers of Cherokee County, said executive director Amy Turner.

Amy Turner said Knuckles had served on the board for at least three years and was very dedicated to the centers' causes of keeping seniors connected to their community and in their own homes longer through services the centers provide. When Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell visited with local seniors in December, Turner said Knuckles made sure she got a chance to speak with him, to advocate for other seniors.

"I think she had a passion for the elderly," Turner said. "She was sweet and easy going. Her impact was profound. Anybody who needed an ear, she was there, for many different people. She always had comforting words."

On Monday, the seniors who came to the centers for programs looked for comforting words for each other after receiving the shocking news that Knuckles had been killed.

"The sentiment today was, ‘How in the world could something this tragic happen to such a lovely lady?'" Turner said. "She was good to all of us."

<p>The son of a woman found strangled to death in a trash can has been taken into custody, according to the Gaffney Police Department.</p><p>Brandon Scott Knuckles, 44, who lived with his mother, Marjorie L. Knuckles, 78, at her Hetty Hill Street home, has been booked at the Cherokee County Detention Center and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, according to online jail records.</p><p>On Sunday, Gaffney Police Chief Richard Turner called Brandon Knuckles a "person of interest" in the case, which remains under investigation.</p><p>Marjorie Knuckles was probably dead for a few days before her family discovered her body Sunday morning in the roll-out trash container behind a shed in her backyard. She had been reported missing by her family on Saturday night.</p><p>Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler, who ruled Marjorie Knuckles' death a homicide on Sunday, said that an autopsy on Monday found that she had been strangled to death. He said it was one of the most "heinous" crimes he's seen.</p><p>"In addition to being strangled, Mrs. Knuckles sustained other non-lethal bodily injuries caused by beating," Fowler said in a written statement. "The person responsible for this has no conscience."</p><p>Police and family couldn't locate Brandon Knuckles or Marjorie Knuckles' 2004 Nissan Maxima during the weekend. On Monday, about 9:30 a.m., officers received information that Brandon Knuckles was at a local motel, according to a written statement. Officers found him at the Homestead Lodge in Gaffney, and the Nissan in the parking lot of a neighboring hotel.</p><p>Brandon Knuckles remained in jail on Monday awaiting a bond hearing.</p><p>Marjorie Knuckles is remembered by friends and family as compassionate and loving. She was the caretaker for her 95-year-old mother, Christine Littlejohn, who was found at the Hetty Hill Street home alone and unharmed on Saturday night. Family members said Marjorie Knuckles would have never left her mother alone, and that was the "red flag" to call police.</p><p>Marjorie Knuckles was a retired teacher, having worked in Anderson. She moved back to Gaffney 10 or 12 years ago and was active in her church, Dunton United Methodist Church, where she served as president of the United Methodist Women.</p><p>Very active for her age, Marjorie Knuckles also served on the board of directors for the Senior Centers of Cherokee County, said executive director Amy Turner.</p><p>Amy Turner said Knuckles had served on the board for at least three years and was very dedicated to the centers' causes of keeping seniors connected to their community and in their own homes longer through services the centers provide. When Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell visited with local seniors in December, Turner said Knuckles made sure she got a chance to speak with him, to advocate for other seniors.</p><p>"I think she had a passion for the elderly," Turner said. "She was sweet and easy going. Her impact was profound. Anybody who needed an ear, she was there, for many different people. She always had comforting words."</p><p>On Monday, the seniors who came to the centers for programs looked for comforting words for each other after receiving the shocking news that Knuckles had been killed.</p><p>"The sentiment today was, 'How in the world could something this tragic happen to such a lovely lady?'" Turner said. "She was good to all of us."</p>